Cathedral in Granada

Ok, I'm terrible at keeping my blog up to date. I try to write in my journal that I carry with me everywhere and turn those notes/feelings/happenings/opinions/etc into blog posts when I get a chance later on. Apparently I haven't had many spare moments to post! I've been traveling almost every weekend and spending weekdays in class, homeworking, and living the Spanish life. I apologize friends and family for not keeping you updated! I'm working on getting everything posted since my first weekend trip in September so here goes! 

Friday September 23, 2011

First day in Granada, Spain:

As I sit in the Cathedral of Granada, Spain I feel obligated to write in my journal but have no words to truly describe its beauty. I am speechless, sitting on the front pew, marveling at each detail of this cathedral. A trend in European cathedrals, everything is made of gold. Paintings of saints mixed with gold statues fill the front of the church. You find new details that have stories and reasons behind them, that you didn't notice the first five times you looked at the same statue or painting. 

I have snapped about a hundred pictures of this Cathedral in a failed attempt to capture its beauty. The chipped paint that wore off over the past hundreds of years, the missing limbs of statues, the tarnished color of pure gold, the creaky sounds of each wooden pew as people sit in astonishment. It is frustrating because although I want to take pictures of everything to show what breathtaking beauty I find myself in front of, it still doesn't do justice.No photo or remake could ever resemble the actual beauty of these works. The scars of time obvious on each statue, painting and piece of gold. That only adds to the beauty of the art.

During my trip I'm taking pictures not only for myself so I can remember what I've done and where I've been, but to share with you, my friends and family. I feel as if I should apologize though. As you see the beauty in these pictures I post, just know that the real thing is a gazillion times more amazing. You will have to visit these places in person to experience what I am at this very moment. You have to be here for this to take you breath away, for it to stop you in your tracks, for it to make you so speechless that you have to actively search for words. You will marvel at each work and notice those details each time you look closer. This is real art, real history, real life. 

Four Makeup Must-Haves

Have you ever gone to Target (or Walgreens or M.A.C. or wherever you buy your makeup) and bought something you were super excited about, and went home to try it, but was so disappointed by its performance? AH! I've done this so, so, so, soooo many times. I am fairly gullible and I believe with all my heart that every mascara that says will "extend your lashes 10X!" or "lasts 24 hours" or whatever the impossible claim may be.
So, as I sit in front of my mirror every morning, I realize that I will go frantic if I cannot find any one of these four items in my makeup stash and I wanted to share them with you because it has taken me trial and error and countless dollars to find my favorite items. Hopefully this will also save you from wasting (some of) your time and money on useless items. Also, I don't believe in wasting money on expensive makeup (especially 'cause I'm a poor college student). Creating the same looks with drug store makeup is feasible and affordable. These four items have made my MUST-HAVE list for an everyday look:

1. Eye Shadow Quad

This is my absolute favorite color scheme because it is neutral. You can keep it light for day and darken it up for the evening. Either way, its cheap, its easy and its versatile.
Revlon 12-Hour Colorstay in Coffee Bean. $4.99 @ Target.


2. Eyeliner

I need my eyeliner. I think that eyeliner is the most important art expression when it comes to makeup. You can do so much with it and change it so drastically depending on your mood or time of day. My absolute favorite eyeliner is Maybelline Line Stiletto. I am in LOVE with this line of eyeliner because it glides smooth, it is easy to control when drawing thin or thick and it lasts.
Maybelline Line Stiletto in Blackest Black. $5.94 @ Target.


3. Mascara

Similar to the perfect boyfriend, every girl is on the lookout for the perfect mascara. We take our makeup seriously and mascara is the most serious of it all. Mascara can make or break a look in my opinion because it must extend lashes above the eyeliner no matter how dramatic the line. I love wearing a dramatic look which usually requires a thicker line of eyeliner and I need my lashes to look as fakely long as possible while still remaining real. This mascara has accomplished this for me without the clumps.
Maybelline Lash Stiletto Ultimate Length in Blackest Black. $6.94 @ Target.


4. Lipstick

The finishing touch to a look. Whether it be a fierce red, berry pink, or a nude color, it is still definitely a necessity. I prefer a berry pink color most days but will opt for a bright red when I'm feeling risky. My fav-
Mac Lipstick in Girl About Town-Fabulous Fuchsia. $14.50 @ Mac.


chao mis bellezas ❤